We’re proud to announce that our very own Josephine Graham won the Chorus Ambassadorship Award and that Tonkin + Taylor Group won the ASB Emerging Award at the Pride Pledge 2024 New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards!
Josephine Graham: A Leader in Change
Josephine is a Technology and Futurity Specialist and has worked for Geotechnics, one of the companies within the Tonkin + Taylor Group, for five years. She started in the Health and Safety field and has since focused on cross-disciplinary work in project management and strategy development for the Group. Josephine is Chair of the Tonkin + Taylor Group Rainbow Committee and is responsible for sector engagement, policy and guideline development, and data management and outcomes.
The Chorus Ambassadorship Award recognises internal heroes and role models in leadership roles who are actively driving improvements in rainbow inclusion, and there is no one more deserving than Josephine. On awards night, she accepted the award with these impactful words:
“We are the children of the revolution, standing on foundations laid by giants. The bricks others have thrown to gain recognition, we have taken to build and reinforce the spaces that the queers of the future will inhabit. In thinking of the future, I invite us all to consider – will the DEIB movement ever have an end? For myself, I do not think so. Our revolution may evolve to suit the needs of the moment, but it is enduring. We may feel lost at times without a finish line, yet I take comfort in knowing that I am playing my part in building a future full of hope that will outlive me. With this hope, I dedicate this award to the future champions – the children who will take our place as leaders, as the marshals of this revolution. Thank you again for this honour.”
During her time at Geotechnics, Josephine has been incredibly open and honest about her transition journey, and the support she received inspired her to advocate for the rainbow community and enable others to be their authentic selves at work. She aims to break down barriers for underprivileged people across all intersectionalities, bringing our people and their stories together. Her willingness to share her experiences has helped numerous individuals understand the importance of rainbow inclusion. Josephine’s transparency sparked a cultural shift: by sharing her story openly, she enabled many colleagues, including those previously unfamiliar with rainbow communities, to recognise the significance of transitioning and the value of supporting individuals through such journeys.
Paul Burton (he/him), the Chief Executive of Geotechnics, shares:
“Josephine has empowered our whole team to create a place of belonging for all. I find great comfort in the fact that the future of the profession will evolve to be diverse, inclusive, equitable, and a place where we all can belong, whoever we truly are in ourselves.”
Externally, Josephine is the newly elected Chair of the Rainbow Special Interest Group (RSIG) under Engineering NZ, which advocates for and improves the representation of rainbow communities across the engineering profession.
Her involvement in the establishment of RSIG reflects her commitment to ensuring that our wider industry remains a safe and inclusive space for everyone. This is also evident in her commitment to university groups such as the Rainbow Engineering Society at the University of Canterbury.
“Josephine is an incredible powerhouse when it comes to rainbow communities’ inclusion. Her voice representing trans voices in our industry has also been invaluable, and her passion for diversity and inclusion is unquestionable. With people like her in our industry and leading the way, I am confident we will only be moving in the correct direction.”- Waldo Posthumus (he/him), Senior Civil Engineer Aurecon and Chair of the Rainbow Special Interest Group (RSIG)
Rainbow Community Representation
In our Tonkin + Taylor Group 2023 people census, 5.4% of our employees identified as members of rainbow communities, surpassing the current industry-wide figure of 3.2%. This number has risen from 2% in 2021, highlighting the impact our focus on visibility and support has made. Josephine’s openness in sharing her story, alongside her efforts to increase visibility and highlight available support, has inspired many of our people to feel they can bring their authentic selves to work.
“Josephine’s impact in actively driving improvements for rainbow inclusion goes beyond Tonkin + Taylor. She has driven real change for good for rainbow inclusion in our company and Aotearoa’s engineering sector – so crucial for a flourishing Aotearoa. Josephine is a truly profound and wholehearted ambassador for change.” – Penny Kneebone (she/her), Chief Executive Tonkin + Taylor NZ and Executive Sponsor of the Tonkin + Taylor Group Rainbow Committee
ASB Emerging Award Win for Rainbow Inclusion
Tonkin + Taylor Group is honoured to receive the 2024 ASB Emerging Award, recognising our commitment to fostering rainbow inclusion within the workplace. This prestigious accolade celebrates organisations that, although still early in their diversity and inclusion journey, have demonstrated significant progress in embedding rainbow (LGBTTQIA+) support throughout their operations.
Acknowledging the Challenge
In 2020, we faced a pivotal moment when our application for Rainbow Tick accreditation was unsuccessful. This was a wake-up call. While we were confident in our culture, we discovered that the lived experiences of our rainbow employees did not reflect the inclusive environment we believed we had created. This realisation compelled us to examine our policies, practices, and assumptions more closely.
Since 2019, we have worked hard to address the needs of our rainbow communities. Today, 5.6% of our workforce identifies as part of the rainbow community, and we are dedicated to ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
Building a Culture of Inclusion
Due to rapid growth — from 442 employees in 2011 to over 1,400 in 2024 — gaps emerged in how we supported our increasingly diverse workforce. Recognising this, we established a Rainbow Committee to oversee sustainable, long-term inclusion initiatives, and launched a thriving internal Rainbow Network.
Visible support from leadership has been instrumental in fostering an inclusive culture. From voluntary rainbow training sessions to participating in events like the Auckland Pride March, our leaders have demonstrated their commitment to making Tonkin + Taylor a place where everyone can thrive.
A Step Forward
Receiving the ASB Emerging Award is a testament to the progress we have made. It reflects the hard work of our employees, who have driven meaningful change across the organisation. From implementing all-gender bathrooms to enhancing data collection on diversity, our initiatives have created a stronger foundation for inclusion.
While we are proud of this recognition, we remain focused on the road ahead. Our Rainbow Committee continues to work tirelessly to address areas for improvement, such as increasing representation on project sites and broadening industry collaboration.
Inclusion is not a destination, but a continuous journey, and this award inspires us to move forward, ensuring we remain a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.
